Retainer for cut wallboard and method of using the same

ABSTRACT

The retainer for cut wallboard is a device for repairing a piece of wallboard from which a smaller piece has been removed. The retainer includes a closed band having opposed inner and outer faces and opposed first and second edges. A plurality of outer retaining members are attached to the first edge of the closed band, with the plurality of outer retaining members extending outwardly therefrom. Further, a plurality of inner retaining members are attached to the second edge of the closed band, with the plurality of inner retaining members extending inwardly therefrom. A plurality of resilient members are further attached to the first edge of the closed band and also extend inwardly therefrom.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/193,637, filed Dec. 11, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the repair of wallboard. Particularly, the retainer for cut wallboard is a device for repairing a piece of wallboard from which a smaller piece has been removed.

2. Description of the Related Art

Walls for houses, buildings and other edifices are commonly made from plaster, sheetrock or wallboard (sometimes referred to as drywall). Such wall panels are used due to the convenience with which repairs can be effected therein. Most commonly, damage in the wallboard is in the form of cracks or breaks. However, the wallboard may be easily damaged to a greater extent, either through accident, or through the intentional cutting of a hole therethrough in order to repair pipes, electrical lines or the like behind the wall panel.

When a piece of drywall or sheet rock wall is damaged with a deep dent or hole, a conventional repair method includes adhering a rigid sheet over the damaged area, and covering the sheet with spackle. Since all the repair materials are added to the outside surface of the wall, the finished repair forms a noticeable bump on the wall. For repairs that are larger than the spread achievable in wet plaster, various techniques have been developed for providing support to a plaster patch or the like.

Common repair techniques include the fitting of plasterboard patches or the use of paper or cardboard fillers, which are then adhered to the edges of the opening. However, maintaining the support in position during the repair can be difficult, and can result in further damage to the wall, or in uneven edges around the repair, thus also resulting in raised portions in the wall. Thus, a retainer for cut wallboard and method of using the same solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The retainer for cut wallboard is a device for repairing a piece of wallboard from which a smaller piece has been removed. The retainer includes a closed band having opposed inner and outer faces and opposed first and second edges. A plurality of outer retaining members are secured to the first edge of the closed band, with the plurality of outer retaining members projecting outwardly therefrom. Further, a plurality of inner retaining members are secured to the second edge of the closed band, with the plurality of inner retaining members projecting inwardly therefrom. A plurality of resilient members are attached to the first edge of the closed band and also extend inwardly therefrom.

In use, the smaller piece of wallboard is cut from the larger piece of wallboard by a hole saw or the like. Typically, small, circular pieces of drywall, for example, are often cut from wall panels in order to repair pipes or electrical wiring behind the wall. In order to repair the wall panel following these repairs, the closed band is positioned within the hole formed in the piece of wallboard so that the outer face of the band contacts a boundary edge defining the hole. The plurality of outer retaining members contact an outer surface of the piece of wallboard so that the outer retaining members are pressed flush against the outer surface in order to hold the closed band in place. The closed band is preferably adjustable in circumference so that the outer face thereof can be adjusted to continuously be pressed flush against the boundary edge of the hole, with the band being held to the boundary edge by frictional engagement therewith.

The cut piece of wallboard is then inserted within an interior region of the closed band so that a rear surface of the cut piece of wallboard contacts the plurality of inner retaining members, with the rear surface being pressed flush against the inner retaining members. Preferably, the band is sized so that the distance between the opposed first and second edges is equal to the thickness of the piece of wallboard, allowing the outer and inner faces of the cutout piece and the piece of wallboard to mate.

A circumferential edge of the cut piece of wallboard is biased against the plurality of resilient members to secure the cut piece of wallboard within the interior region of the closed band. A piece of mesh, such as fiberglass mesh or the like, is then secured to the piece of wallboard and covers the cut piece of wallboard, the hole and the retainer. The piece of mesh may be secured through the application of tape or the like. The cut piece of wallboard, the hole, the retainer and the piece of mesh may then be covered with a layer of plaster or the like, and then painted to form a continuous, repaired piece of wallboard.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retainer for cut wallboard according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the retainer for cut wallboard of FIG. 1, shown in an open configuration.

FIG. 3 illustrates an initial step in the method of using the retainer for cut wallboard according to the present invention, showing cutting of a piece of wallboard.

FIG. 4 illustrates a subsequent step in the method of using the retainer for cut wallboard according to the present invention, showing removal of a piece of cut wallboard.

FIG. 5 illustrates a subsequent step in the method of using the retainer for cut wallboard according to the present invention, showing insertion of the retainer for cut wallboard.

FIG. 6 illustrates a subsequent step in the method of using the retainer for cut wallboard according to the present invention, showing insertion of the piece of cut wallboard into the retainer.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate subsequent steps in the method of using the retainer for cut wallboard according to the present invention, showing application of fiberglass mesh for repair of the wallboard.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the retainer for cut wallboard.

FIG. 10 is an environmental, perspective view of the alternative retainer for cut wallboard of FIG. 9 applied to a piece of cut wallboard.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The retainer 10 for cut wallboard is a device for repairing a piece of wallboard from which a smaller piece has been removed. As best shown in FIG. 1, the retainer 10 includes a closed band 12 having opposed inner and outer faces 11, 13, respectively, and opposed first and second edges 20, 22, respectively. A plurality of outer retaining members 14 are secured to the first edge 20 of the closed band 12, with the plurality of outer retaining members 14 projecting outwardly therefrom. Further, a plurality of inner retaining members 16 are secured to the second edge 22 of the closed band 12, with the plurality of inner retaining members 16 projecting inwardly therefrom.

Preferably, as shown, the inner and outer retaining members 16 and 14 are mounted to the band 12 adjacent one another, although it should be understood that the inner and outer retaining members 16 and 14 may be positioned at any suitable location along band 12. Further, though shown as having four inner retaining members 16 and four outer retaining members 14 in the drawings, it should be understood that this is shown for exemplary purposes only, and that any suitable number of retaining members may be utilized. Additionally, the size and shape of the retaining members may be varied, depending upon the particular nature of the work surface to which retainer 10 is applied. Similarly, band 12 is shown as having a circular shape in the drawings, although it should be understood that band 12 may have any shape in order to mate with a corresponding hole in a panel of wallboard, as will be described in greater detail below.

A plurality of resilient members 18 are attached to the first edge 20 of the closed band 12 and also extend inwardly therefrom. Resilient members 18 are preferably formed from a resilient and flexible material, such as spring steel. However, band 12, outer retaining members 14, inner retaining members 16 and resilient members 18 may be formed from any suitable flexible and resilient material, such as heavy cardboard or paperboard, flexible metal, plastic or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, band 12 preferably has a buckle 24 formed on one end thereof for receiving a free end 26, allowing the user to selectively adjust the circumference of band 12. As will be described in greater detail below, the band 12 is received within a hole formed in a wallboard panel and the circumference of the band may be adjusted so that the band 12 mates with the boundary edge defining the hole.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in use, a relatively small piece of wallboard 38 is cut from the larger piece or panel of wallboard 30 by a hole saw 32 or the like. Typically, such small, circular pieces of drywall, for example, are often cut from wall panels in order to repair pipes or electrical wiring behind the wall. As noted above, the circular cutout piece 38 and the resultant circular hole 36 are shown for exemplary purposes only, and retainer 10 may be used with any other shape of hole, such as a rectangular hole.

In order to repair the wall panel 30 following repairs to the pipes or the like, the closed band 12 is positioned within the hole 36 formed in the piece of wallboard 30 so that the outer face 13 of the band 12 contacts a boundary edge defining the hole 36, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The plurality of outer retaining members 14 contact an outer surface of the piece of wallboard 30 so that the outer retaining members 14 are pressed flush against the outer surface in order to hold the closed band 12 in place within hole 36. As noted above, the closed band 12 is preferably adjustable in circumference so that the outer face 13 thereof can be adjusted to continuously be pressed flush against the boundary edge of the hole 36, with the band 12 being held to the boundary edge by frictional engagement therewith.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cut piece of wallboard 38 is then inserted within an interior region of the closed band 12 so that a rear surface of the cut piece of wallboard 38 contacts the plurality of inner retaining members 16, with the rear surface being pressed flush against the inner retaining members 16. Preferably, the band 12 is sized so that the distance between the opposed first and second edges 20, 22 is equal to the thickness of the piece of wallboard 30, allowing the outer and inner faces of the cut-out piece 38 and the piece of wallboard 30 to mate.

A circumferential edge of the cut piece of wallboard 38 is biased against the plurality of resilient members 18 to secure the cut piece of wallboard 38 within the interior region of the closed band 12. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a piece of mesh 40, such as fiberglass mesh or the like, is then secured to the piece of wallboard 30 and covers the cut piece of wallboard 38, the hole 36 and the retainer 10. The piece of mesh 40 may be secured through the application of tape strips 42 or the like. The cut piece of wallboard 38, the hole 36, the retainer 10 and the piece of mesh 40 may then be covered with a layer of plaster, joint compound, spackle, or the like, and then painted to form a continuous, repaired piece of wallboard.

In the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, retainer 10 is replaced by a plurality of retaining clips 100. Each clip 100 includes a pair of outer retaining members 100 positioned at opposed ends of a central support 112. Similar to that described above with respect to band 12, the central support 112 preferably has a length equal to the thickness of the wallboard panel, so that the pair of outer retaining members 110 are spaced apart by the thickness of the panel 30. As shown in FIG. 10, each clip 100 is secured to the boundary edge-defining hole 36 with the panel 30 being received between each respective pair of outer retaining members 100.

Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-8, each retaining clip 100 further includes an inner retaining member 120, which acts in a manner similar to inner retaining members 16. Further, each retaining clip 100 also includes a resilient member 130, which acts in a manner similar to that described above with reference to resilient members 18. As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of clips 100 are fixed to the boundary edge defining hole 36, and the wallboard panel may be repaired in the same manner as that described above with regard to FIGS. 6-8.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A retainer for cut wallboard, comprising: a closed band having opposed inner and outer faces and opposed first and second edges; a plurality of outer retaining members attached to the first edge of the closed band, the plurality of outer retaining members projecting outwardly from the closed band; a plurality of inner retaining members attached to the second edge of the closed band, the plurality of inner retaining members projecting inwardly from the closed band; and a plurality of resilient members attached to the first edge of the closed band and extending inwardly therefrom; whereby, a piece of wallboard may be repaired by positioning the closed band within a hole formed in the piece of wallboard so that the outer face thereof contacts a boundary edge defining the hole and the plurality of outer retaining members contact an outer surface of the piece of wallboard, a cut piece of wallboard being received within an interior region of the closed band so that a rear surface of the cut piece of wallboard contacts the plurality of inner retaining members and a circumferential edge of the cut piece of wallboard is held by the plurality of resilient members by resilient engagement therewith.
 2. The retainer for cut wallboard as recited in claim 1, wherein said closed band has a selectively adjustable circumference.
 3. The retainer for cut wallboard as recited in claim 2, further comprising a buckle, said closed band having first and second free ends releasably and adjustably secured to one another by the buckle.
 4. The retainer for cut wallboard as recited in claim 1, wherein each said outer retaining member has a corresponding one of said inner retaining members associated therewith and positioned adjacent thereto.
 5. The retainer for cut wallboard as recited in claim 4, wherein each said outer retaining member and each said inner retaining member is substantially rectangular.
 6. A retainer for cut wallboard, comprising a plurality of retaining clips, each of the clips having: a pair of outer retaining members; an inner retaining member; and a resilient member; whereby, a piece of wallboard may be repaired by positioning the plurality of retaining clips within a hole formed in the piece of wallboard so that the outer retaining members grip a boundary edge defining the hole and the inner retaining members and resilient members extend inwardly with respect to the boundary edge defining the hole, a cut piece of wallboard being received within the hole so that a rear surface of the cut piece of wallboard contacts the inner retaining members and a circumferential edge of the cut piece of wallboard is held by the resilient members by resilient engagement therewith.
 7. The retainer for cut wallboard as recited in claim 6, wherein said resilient member is substantially triangular.
 8. The retainer for cut wallboard as recited in claim 6, wherein each said retaining clip further comprises a central support having opposed first and second ends, one of said outer retaining members being secured to the first end thereof, the other of said outer retaining members being secured to the second end thereof, the resilient member being secured to the first end thereof, and the inner retaining member being secured to the second end thereof.
 9. A method of repairing cut wallboard, comprising the steps of: providing a retainer having a closed band, the closed band having opposed inner and outer faces and opposed first and second edges, the retainer further having a plurality of outer retaining members attached to the first edge of the closed band and extending outwardly therefrom, a plurality of inner retaining members attached to the second edge of the closed band and extending inwardly therefrom, and a plurality of resilient members attached to the first edge of the closed band and extending inwardly therefrom; positioning the closed band within a hole formed in a piece of wallboard so that the outer face thereof contacts a boundary edge defining the hole and the plurality of outer retaining members contact an outer surface of the piece of wallboard; inserting a cut piece of wallboard within an interior region of the closed band so that a rear surface of the cut piece of wallboard contacts the plurality of inner retaining members; biasing a circumferential edge of the cut piece of wallboard against the plurality of resilient members to hold the cut piece of wallboard within the interior region of the closed band; securing a piece of mesh to the piece of wallboard and covering the cut piece of wallboard, the hole and the retainer with the piece of mesh; and covering the cut piece of wallboard, the hole, the retainer and the piece of mesh with a layer of joint compound.
 10. The method of repairing cut wallboard as recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of adjusting a circumference of the closed band to mate with the hole formed in the piece of wallboard. 